Appealing Maggie pulls away in Miss Woodford at Monmouth

Appealing Maggie proved much the best in the $73,500 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, putting away second choice Brandy's Girl entering the stretch and then pulling away to win by 3 3/4 lengths.

Appealing Maggie, the 8-5 favorite in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies, attended the early pace outside Brandy's Girl through a fast quarter-mile in 21.48. She moved up to challenge in earnest on the far turn, with the half going in 43.83, then pulled away nicely to stop the timer in 1:09.23.

Owned by the Black Swan Stable of former trainer John DeStephano Jr., Appealing Maggie is now 3 for 5 in her career. She is trainer Mike Hushion's first starter at Monmouth since August 2014. Chris DeCarlo was aboard the daughter of Successful Appeal. She paid $5.40.

"She broke sharp," DeCarlo said. "Once we hit the five-eighths pole I could see the other horse had grabbed the bit, so I backed off a little bit. She's a really nice filly."

Giddy Up, a 34-1 shot, finished second in the Miss Woodford. Forwardly place along the inside, she continued willingly to best third-place Bodacious Babe by a length.

Exchanging Secrets broke slowly, lagged far back, and then made up ground to be fourth, a half-length behind Bodacious Babe. Brandy's Girl tired in the stretch to finish fifth, three lengths farther back.

Appealing Maggie, a $35,000 Keeneland yearling buy in 2014, won a maiden race at Aqueduct in January. She came back to take a first-level optional-claiming race in March. In her race prior to the Miss Woodford, she set the early pace in the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park, but had to settle for second behind the talented winner Kareena.